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autumn of 1830。 Formidable associations； headed； not by ordinary
demagogues； but by men of high rank； stainless character； and
distinguished ability； demanded a revision of the representative system。
The populace； emboldened by the impotence and irresolution of the
government； had recently broken loose from all restraint； besieged the
chambers of the legislature； hustled peers； hunted bishops； attacked the
residences of ambassadors； opened prisons； burned and pulled down
houses。 London had presented during some days the aspect of a city taken
by storm； and it had been necessary to form a camp among the trees of
Saint James's Park。
In spite of dangers and difficulties abroad and at home； George the
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Third； with a firmness which had little affinity with virtue or with wisdom；
persisted in his determination to put down the American rebels by force of
arms； and his ministers submitted their judgment to his。 Some of them
were probably actuated merely by selfish cupidity； but their chief； Lord
North； a man of high honour； amiable temper； winning manners； lively wit；
and excellent talents both for business and for debate； must be acquitted of
all sordid motives。 He remained at a post from which he had long wished
and had repeatedly tried to escape； only because he had not sufficient
fortitude to resist the entreaties and reproaches of the King； who silenced
all arguments by passionately asking whether any gentleman； any man of
spirit； could have the heart to desert a kind master in the hour of extremity。
The opposition consisted of two parties which had once been hostile to
each other； and which had been very slowly； and； as it soon appeared； very
imperfectly reconciled； but which at this conjuncture seemed to act
together with cordiality。 The larger of these parties consisted of the great
body of the Whig aristocracy。 Its head was Charles； Marquess of
Rockingham； a man of sense and virtue； and in wealth and parliamentary
interest equalled by very few of the English nobles； but afflicted with a
nervous timidity which prevented him from taking a prominent part in
debate。 In the House of Commons； the adherents of Rockingham were led
by Fox； whose dissipated habits and ruined fortunes were the talk of the
whole town； but whose commanding genius； and whose sweet； generous；
and affectionate disposition； extorted the admiration and love of those who
most lamented the errors of his private life。 Burke； superior to Fox in
largeness of comprehension； in extent of knowledge； and in splendour of
imagination； but less skilled in that kind of logic and in that kind of
rhetoric which convince and persuade great assemblies； was willing to be
the lieutenant of a young chief who might have been his son。
A smaller section of the opposition was composed of the old followers
of Chatham。 At their head was William； Earl of Shelburne； distinguished
both as a statesman and as a lover of science and letters。 With him were
leagued Lord Camden； who had formerly held the Great Seal； and whose
integrity； ability； and constitutional knowledge commanded the public
respect； Barre； an eloquent and acrimonious declaimer； and Dunning； who
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had long held the first place at the English bar。 It was to this party that Pitt
was naturally attracted。
On the 26th of February 1781； he made his first speech； in favour of
Burke's plan of economical reform。 Fox stood up at the same moment； but
instantly gave way。 The lofty yet animated deportment of the young
member； his perfect self…possession； the readiness with which he replied to
the orators who had preceded him； the silver tones of his voice； the perfect
structure of his unpremeditated sentences； astonished and delighted his
hearers。 Burke； moved even to tears； exclaimed； 〃It is not a chip of the old
block； it is the old block itself。〃 〃Pitt will be one of the first men in
Parliament；〃 said a member of the opposition to Fox。 〃He is so already；〃
answered Fox； in whose nature envy had no place。 It is a curious fact； well
remembered by some who were very recently living； that soon after this
debate Pitt's name was put up by Fox at Brookes's。
On two subsequent occasions during that session Pitt addressed the
House； and on both fully sustained the reputation which he had acquired
on his first appearance。 In the summer； after the prorogation； he again
went the western circuit； held several briefs； and acquitted himself in such
a manner that he was highly complimented by Buller from the bench； and
by Dunning at the bar。
On the 27th of November the Parliament reassembled。 Only forty…
eight hours before had arrived tidings of the surrender of Cornwallis and
his army； and it had consequently been necessary to rewrite the royal
speech。 Every man in the kingdom； except the King； was now convinced
that it was mere madness to think of conquering the United States。 In the
debate on the report of the address； Pitt spoke with even more energy and
brilliancy than on any former occasion。 He was warmly applauded by his
allies； but it was remarked that no person on his own side of the house was
so loud in eulogy as Henry Dundas； the Lord Advocate of Scotland； who
spoke from the ministerial ranks。 That able and versatile politician
distinctly foresaw the approaching downfall of the government with which
he was connected； and was preparing to make his own escape from the
ruin。 From that night dates his connection with Pitt； a connection which
soon became a close intimacy； and which lasted till it was dissolved by
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death。
About a fortnight later； Pitt spoke in the committee of supply on the
army estimates。 Symptoms of dissension had begun to appear on the
Treasury bench。 Lord George Germaine； the Secretary of State； who was
especially charged with the direction of the war in America； had held
language not easily to be reconciled with declarations made by the First
Lord of the Treasury。 Pitt noticed the discrepancy with much force and
keenness。 Lord George and Lord North began to whisper together； and
Welbore Ellis； an ancient placeman who had been drawing salary almost
every quarter since the days of Henry Pelham； bent down between them to
put in a word。 Such interruptions sometimes discompose veteran speakers。
Pitt stopped； and； looking at the group； said； with admirable readiness； 〃I
shall wait till Nestor has composed the dispute between Agamemnon and
Achilles。〃
After several defeats； or victories hardly to be distinguished from
defeats； the ministry resigned。 The King； reluctantly and ungraciously；
consented to accept Rockingham as first minister。 Fox and Shelburne
became Secretaries of State。 Lord John Cavendish； one of the most upright
and honourable of men； was made Chancellor of the Exchequer。 Thurlow；
whose abilities and force of character had made him the dictator of the
House of Lords； continued to hold the great seal。
To Pitt was offered； through Shelburne； the Vice…Treasurership of
Ireland； one of the easiest and most highly paid places in the gift of the
crown； but the offer was； without hesitation； declined。 The young
statesman had resolved to accept no post which did not entitle him to a
seat in the cabinet： and； in a few days later； he announced that resolution
in the House of Commons。 It must be remembered that the cabinet was
then a much smaller and more select body than at present。 We have seen
cabinets of sixteen。 In the time of our grandfathers a cabinet of ten or
eleven was thought inconveniently lar